Michael's heart stood still. Verily the old man had seen, for in his
words there were truth and meaning.

"My son, listen to the teachings of the Prophet, God bless his holy
name. 'Believing men should restrain their eyes from looking upon
strange women, whose sight may excite their carnal passions. Draw not
near unto fornication. The word of God restrains the carnal desires of
man even from smouldering in secret.'"

"You know, O my father, that I sought not the presence of the strange
woman in my camp?"

"My son, through the grace of Allah I have seen. Your temptation was
great, your charity was acceptable in God's sight. He knows that many
unbelievers look towards Him, but do not see Him."

"And what now is thy counsel, O my father?"

The African shook his head. "Prayer, my son, that is my counsel. The
world has much need of prayer. Pray that through Allah's guidance all
nations of the earth may learn how to live peacefully one with another.
I can see nothing further; that is my counsel: Work and pray. I can
give you no assurance, but Allah granting, I will pray without ceasing.
You must humbly submit to the will of Allah. This I give you as my
counsel. You took the great journey; your heart is still filled with
the eagerness of youth, with the vanity of earthly ambition. But all
these things will be purged from your heart, your bowels of compassion
will yearn for the mothers of sons, who weep for their sons because
they are not. Your journey was not in vain. If your fingers have not
yet touched the treasure which you sought, if your desires have strayed
from the path of righteousness, if you have not always stood in the
Light, there is a new treasure laid up in your heart, my son, the
treasure of meekness. Meekness is one of the moral conditions of the
Koran, and the servants of the All-Merciful are those who walk meekly
upon earth. This treasure has been revealed to you, you have learned
many strange and wonderful things, a spiritual treasure has been
bestowed upon you which is of greater richness than the gold and the
jewels which you sought. You dreamed not of man's weakness, O my son,
you relied upon your own strength. Allah has chosen His own method of
revealing to you the manner of man's carnal nature."

Michael remained lost in thought while the old man finished his counsel
by reciting a beautiful _sura_ from the Koran. In his mind there had
been gathering the conviction that there